Is the Commercial Solar Gold Rush Upon Us? | Solar Power World

How financiers and installers can team up to win

Earlier this year, the United States surpassed five million solar installations in the country. That may seem like a huge number, especially considering that it took us 50 years to get there. However, the reality is that even in the residential segment, which has the highest penetration to date, the percentage of homes running on solar energy is still in the single digits.

Utility-scale and large-scale commercial are somewhere behind that. Conspicuously absent from the party? Small to medium-sized commercial. In fact, by generous estimates, only about 1 to 2% currently have a solar system.

The reason? Money. Specifically, small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) haven’t had great options for financing. But given the tax incentives currently on the table and a variety of regulatory, social and economic tailwinds, more installers than ever are recognizing that there’s real value in helping SMBs overcome the financial hurdles to going solar. Many of them are in search of funding partners. Both parties have a lot to gain from getting more commercial customers on board — as do the customers themselves…

Read the full story at Solar Power World: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2024/10/guest-column-is-the-commercial-solar-gold-rush-upon-us/